Twenty Blessings from 2020 Challenge!

Most of us are grateful that 2020 is over and we don't ever want to repeat that again. We have been focusing on the trials, the pandemic, the unemployment, the isolation, the masks, the fires, and so many other things that happened last year. I agree they were bad and I don't want to repeat them either.

However, a lot of good came out of 2020 because of some of those very difficult circumstances. In some ways 2020 may have been the best year you ever had. 

See if you can list 20 blessings you received in 2020.  Here is my list.

1. We started a weekly Zoom Come Follow Me meeting with some family and friends. The more intimate setting allowed us to share more with each other and to grow our testimonies. We had grandchildren on the call as well and they took their turns answering questions and even leading discussions. We don’t want this to end…even when things get back to “normal”.
2. Even though our mission to New Zealand is delayed we were able to help a grandson remodel an apartment in his Aunt and Uncle’s shop.
3. We were able to attend our granddaughter’s sealing in the Temple in October.
4. A lot of home improvement projects.
5. We are able to work in the Temple under Phase 2. That has been a pure blessing in our lives.
6. We have learned to reach out to people using Social Media. The #givethanks challenge from President Nelson has been a tremendous blessing.
7. We have had time to read and study Come Follow Me more and have tried to do it every day. The discussions have been wonderful between Steve and me.
8. We have saved a ton of money on gas because of the “stay at home” policy.
9. We were able to take a long vacation to see family members before we eventually go on our mission.
10. With modern technology we were able to still do our weekly Zoom meeting while on our vacation even though we were in different states.
11. We have had more one on one visits with family members since we are discouraged to gather in big groups.
12. Our children put together a video of past Christmas Eve’s with Steve reading the Christmas Story and our children and grandchildren acting out the Nativity since we couldn’t be together as our whole family for Christmas Eve. We had a Family Christmas Eve over Zoom and watched the video.
13. We have done more walking since we are doing so much staying home.
14. Our ministering has been a huge blessing as we have been able to take the Sacrament to one of our sisters every week. Such a tender mercy to share that blessing with her.
15. Steve has been able to exercise his Priesthood each week as he blesses and passes the Sacrament
16. Having a weekly family history session with a few family members.
17. Being able to help Seminary Teachers with their online experience since everyone is online now.
18. Being able to have the Missionaries back in our home for dinner again.
19. Extra time for massive sorting through all our stuff in preparation for our mission.
20. Scanning all those pictures and documents and attaching them to family search and then presenting them to each of our kids as a Christmas Present.

 Patriarchal Blessings

We read in the scriptures how the prophets of old would gather their children around them and give them a blessing when they were about to die. These are called Patriarchal Blessings. In our Church we can also receive a Patriarchal Blessing by one who is called of God and ordained to the office of Patriarch. 

President Thomas S. Monson once said, “Your patriarchal blessing is your passport to peace in this life. It is a Liahona of light to guide you unerringly to your heavenly home.”

I was only a new member in the Church when I received my Patriarchal Blessing. I didn't know the Patriarch and he didn't know me. I didn't fully understand the importance of my blessing in my life. I remember wondering if it was something that was said to everyone. I didn't realize that my blessing was unique to me. Everything seemed so foreign to me and I didn't fully understand what it all meant. I read it often as I was told to do, but still I felt detached from what it said.

Several years later I was really struggling with life. I had four small children and I'll admit, life was hard. I hadn't read my blessing in awhile so I read it again and still it didn't seem to help me with my current circumstances. I needed a "father's blessing". The Patriarch of our Stake lived near us and I was very fond of him and his wife. They were an older couple who kind of adopted our family. We loved them very much.

I want to him and asked for another blessing. He explained that there is only one Patriarchal Blessing for each individual. So I asked for a "Father's blessing" since my father wasn't a member of the Church. He said he would check with the Stake President. He was given permission and we scheduled a time for him to give me a blessing. His wife recorded it and they sent me a copy so I could refer to it. 

I learned a very valuable lesson. I thought I would receive a personal blessing just for me because he knew me so well. He knew of some of the trials I was experiencing. I knew he could help me.

The lesson I learned was indeed, Heavenly Father has a unique blessing for each of us. The blessing he gave me was nearly the same as my original Patriarchal Blessing. It was in his words and it updated a few of the things that had now actually come to pass from my original blessing, but the gist of the blessing was the same. I realized what my problem had been with my Patriarchal Blessing. I had not believed it was really MY blessing. After all, the Patriarch didn't know me so how could he tell me what was best for me? But Heavenly Father know me and He used the Patriarch as an instrument in His hands to tell me the blessing He had for me.

So now I knew it was MY blessing. It was for me to open the windows of heaven and help me with my personal growth. I immediately started studying my blessing, not just reading it. I folded a piece of paper in half and wrote on one side Counsel and on the other side Blessings. I went through both of my blessings and noted all the counsel I was given. Many times it is in the form of "If you do....then you will receive...". There was a lot! Next I recorded the "then" portion of those statements under the blessings column. There seemed to be even more.

I also gleaned the gifts and talents the Lord has blessed me with. When I first got my Patriarchal Blessing I could see those gifts or talents. But, several years later I was beginning to manifest those talents and I could recognize them. I could see that I had a roadmap for life and a way to return to my Heavenly Father. 

God has a work for each of us to do. We don't have to be a prophet or some "great" person. We just need to be the son or daughter God intends us to believe.  We all have a role to play in God's plan. He needs me and He needs you. I am so grateful for my Patriarchal Blessing and the direction it continues to give me each time I read and study it. It seems to change for me as I grow and change. It is my own personal revelation!

#givethanks

His Image In Your Countenance 

This quote reminded me of a Seminary lesson I once did many years ago. I decided to hold a trial in our class. The "defendant" was accused of being a Christian. The purpose of the lesson was to see if there was enough evidence to convict them of being a Christian.

Is there enough evidence to convict you? Are we really an "example of the believers" (1 Timothy 4:12) in all we do and say? Do people know that we follow the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ by our words and our actions?  In Timothy it says "in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Alma puts it another way in Alma 5:14 when he asks, "...Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" I like that visual image of His image in our countenances.  

There is a story told about a woman who goes to a silversmith to watch the process of refining silver.

The Refiner’s Fire

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: ‘He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.’ (Malachi 3:3) She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, ‘How do you know when the silver is fully refined?’ He smiled at her and answered, ‘Oh, that’s easy — when I see my image in it.’

That is what it means to see His image in our countenance. It is after we are purified and refined through life. We are ready when we can see His image in our countenance.

The amazing side note to all of this is other people can also see His image in our countenance. Have you ever seen a person who may have been a complete stranger to you, but you could tell they were good just by looking at them. It wasn't physical beauty, but an inner glow that was actually visible. 

That is EXACTLY what I saw when I met my husband for the first time. He "glowed". I had never seen anything like it before but there was something very different about him from the first time I saw him. As I got to know him I learned he had recently returned from being a missionary for two years in Australia. He taught me about the Church and about my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I knew then that it was the Light of Christ in him. He had the image of the Savior in his countenance. He still does!

 January 13, 2021

I am the "one". You are the "one". In the eyes of God we are each the "one".

I remember when I realized one of the times I was the "one". You see, it can happen more than once in your life. It happens when you need it.

This particular time I was a sophomore in high school. I was lucky enough to be on the drill team. We had early morning practice every morning at 7 am before school started. I remember there were two sisters on our team that always showed up at 7:30 and NEVER got in trouble. Everyone else would get a warning if we were late.

One day while riding on a bus to a parade or a football game (I can't remember), I was sitting next to one of the sisters. I got up enough nerve to ask her why she could be late every day and not get in any trouble. This was my first introduction to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My friend proceeded to tell me all about Seminary. Can you believe teenagers will get up early so they can go to a class all about religion at 6:00 am every school day? I was a little blown away.

She then told me about the First Vision that Joseph Smith had in a grove of trees when he was about 14 years old. I thought how fantastic that sounded. Could it really be true that God spoke to man again on the earth? I always believed that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So if He had prophets anciently, then it only makes sense that He would have prophets today also. After all He will do nothing except he reveal it to His prophets first.

We had many more talks like that over the next three years of high school. For some reason I was not quite ready to accept the Gospel at that time.

But Heavenly Father was not done with me yet. I was still the "one" He was helping. Over the next year and a half He put person after person into my life so many times. He wouldn't give up on me. He wanted me to return to Him.

After many encounters with people sharing the Gospel with me I finally decided I would actually sit down and listen. When I did, I received answers to questions I had had all my life. Questions no one good answer me. Questions about who God the Father is as compared to His Son, Jesus Christ. And what about the Holy Ghost? I had always felt they were three separate beings, but had been taught they were one trinity. I couldn't understand that. I always believed we should have a prophet just like the people who lived during the times Noah or Moses or any of the other ancient prophets. Aren't we just as important as those people who lived anciently? We live in such a different world then what they lived in we need more direct information for our time then for the time of the ark. I also believed that the true Church would follow the same pattern that Jesus set up when He was upon the earth. They way He was baptized is the way we should be baptized. The Church should have Apostles and Seventies and other officers in the Priesthood.

There were so many things I learned that I had always believed. When I finally listened I realized that I had come home. That is exactly how I felt. I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 19, 1971 and it was the very best decision I had ever made. It changed my life. It has given me meaning to my life. It has given me an Eternal future with my family and with my Heavenly Parents and my Elder Brother Jesus Christ.

I am so grateful to a young teenage girl who was willing to share her testimony with me so many years ago. In that moment I was the "one". #givethanks

1Ellen Bradford

 January 12, 2021

I have learned that life is too short to spend it in arguments. We are here on this earth to find joy and we can't do that if we continually engage in argumentative behavior.

I grew up with four brothers and I know we probably had more than our share of arguments. I also know that I probably spent too much time arguing with my children or husband over the years. I regret that.

However, I don't recall any of the arguments I had and that is good. The things I remember are the good times. The fun times we had together. The times we laughed and played. That is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. No more arguing for me!!!

31Steve Wilcox, Kris Locken and 29 others

 January 11, 2021

What a better world we could live in if people could just learn to respect people with opposite opinions. We don't have to agree to still respect each other and be civil. I agree it is the tone of how we express those differing opinions that cause the most contention. I am sorry if my tone was was ever inappropriate.

25Sierra Langford, Larry Locken and 23 others

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 January 10, 2021

Sometimes we have to do hard things. I have reflected on some of the hard things I have done in my life. I remember when I was first called to be a Seminary teacher. I was working full time and called to do a very high intensity calling of preparing and teaching a spiritual lesson to 16 youth ages 14 and 15 five days a week at 6:00 AM every weekday morning during the school year. I had to get up at 4 in the morning to get ready, drive the twenty or so minutes to the Church so I can be there at least 30 minutes before class started to prepare my room and greet my students. I had to prepare a lesson everyday and somehow get to bed by 8 so I could get enough sleep for the next day.

I won't lie. It was hard. But it was also the best calling I have ever had. And the most rewarding for me. I grew closer to the Lord so much. I had incredible students in my class; however, there were times I wondered if I was reaching any of them. I know they probably just wanted to still be in bed...but they were there. I'm sure they hoped they could just lay their heads down and sleep...but they stayed awake and participated. I love each and every one of those students for all the years I taught.

I remember one day one of my students came to me and told me that I had saved her friend. I had made a difference. I felt so good. I realized that if I could touch just one student it would all be worth it. Years later I visited that student and she told me what I had done for her. Again, I felt if she was the only one I touched it was worth it.

I recently had another experience as a read a comment by someone I know. The comment touched my heart so much that I knew if my post was only for that person it would have been worth it.

This reminds me of how the Savior went about teaching and reaching the one. I have heard it said that even if I was the only person who ever lived on planet earth, the Savior still would have come down and suffered and bled and Atoned just for me. It is all about the ONE. We are to minister to the one. All ordinances are performed for individuals and not for groups.

I love Elder Bednar's book called One by One. That is what we are to do. Serve each other One by One in anyway we can. This is how we Love One Another!

27Steve Wilcox, Kylee Wilcox and 25 others

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